- Apr 18, 2020
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No I apologize, this was not taught to me but instead inferred by a bad translation I read many years ago. When I became a Christian about 11 years ago I began reading the NLT version and after about 2 years of studying the Bible and the Greek manuscripts I came to the conclusion that the NLT is not a very accurate translation. So I misunderstood Romans 9 based on the NLT version which seems to imply that the stumbling block placed in Zion was the law but after searching for the verse and not being able to find it in the NASB which I use now, I decided to check the NLT version of Romans 9 and sure enough I found the source of the mistake.
“But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded. Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path. God warned them of this in the Scriptures when he said, “I am placing a stone in Jerusalem that makes people stumble, a rock that makes them fall. But anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.””
Romans 9:31-33 NLT
I haven’t used the NLT version in about 8 or 9 years but evidently I retained the mistake I learned from it and hadn’t realized it until now because of this discussion. So I do humbly apologize for my mistake. I’ve been using the NASB after abandoning the NLT which is a far superior translation.
“What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith; but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, just as it is written, “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.””
Romans 9:30-33 NASB1995
The NASB makes it clear that the stumbling block was Christ not the law. So I concede that you are correct the law was not put in place by God to be a stumbling block for the Jews. Although I do see how the law became a stumbling block for them in the sense that they sought justification thru the law instead of by faith and it’s because of this that I held to that notion for so long because it seemed to line up with the result of the law being given to the Jews. So I retract my previous statement that the law was placed before the Jews by God for the purpose of being a stumbling block. I have more to say on this subject but my lunch break is over so I will reiterate at my next convenience. God bless.
Thanks for the reply.
While I agree there are many new age, or progressive translations, I personally have found that even those have enough truth that if it's the only bible a man has, he can still find truth.
But honestly, the over arching philosophy being promoted didn't change just because you changed translations. The foundation is still the same. That the Pharisees were obeying God's Law in order to earn salvation, or justification. And this is simply a falsehood, if the scriptures are to be trusted.
Consider Isaiah 1, in any translation.
1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.
This is not a people who were trying to be justified by, as is taught by many of this world's self-proclaimed "ministers of righteousness", "Living by the Law of Moses". This is so important to understand. They were disobedient and unfaithful to God. Not "Faithful" like Caleb, or Joshua or Daniel or Zacharias or Simeon or the Wise men. These "Shepherds" were corrupters, as Jesus described their children, "But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in."
But what do these disobedient men, who profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. continue to do?
10 Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. 11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.
The Pharisees did the exact same thing.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
They were not trying to be Justified by the LAW. They rejected God's Law. They were trying to be Justified by the "Works" of the Law, which was added till the SEED should come.
This is what God wanted from them, and men of FAITH lived by them.
16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; 17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. 18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
Zacharias, Simeon, Caleb, Joshua, Abraham Paul, Peter, James, and EVERY Example of Faith in the Bible, "Believed God" in this Instruction. The Pharisees didn't, instead, they were trying to be Justified by the "works" of their version of the Levitical Priesthood, which was temporary, and only put in Place, "Til the SEED should come".
Had they believed Moses, and "yielded themselves servants to obey God, like Zacharias and all the faithful did, they would have known the Christ when HE came.
I hope you might consider these Scriptures, and the warning of the Jesus of the Bible concerning the "many" who come in HIS name.
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